Murphy to submit proposals on format of Constitutional Convention following consultation with Taoiseach

Press release | 28th February 2012

Deputy Catherine Murphy (Independent – Kildare North) today welcomed the Government’s move to establish the long-awaited Constitutional Convention which is intended to lead to wide political and social policy reforms, but she expressed her disappointment that the current terms proposed by the Government do not include a radical overhaul of governance, which she says is “essential to acheiveing real and lasting change.” Deputy Murphy also expressed reservations that the Convention membership would not involve civil society groups, being made up fully of 66 citizens and 33 parliamentarians; plus a chair.

Speaking after a consultative meeting with members of the Opposition hosted by the Taoiseach at which submissions were invited from Opposition deputies, Deputy Murphy indicated that she would be making a submission to include “a wider reform of governance, which crucially will include a detailed section on Local Government reform”.

In advance of the meeting, a number of specific areas of reform for the Convention to focus on were agreed by several Independent members of the Technical Group; including Dáil and Seanad reform, electoral reform, voting rights for emigrants abroad, and reform of the Presidency. On social matters, the Group expressly sought assurances that the issue of Marriage access for gay & lesbian citizens would be included, references to Women’s ‘life within the home’ and certain religious invokations would be examined with a view to being removed, and that future constitutional text might be gender neutral.

“I’m happy to see that many of the areas which the Technical Group identified as needing reform will be looked at by the Convention, including votes for citizens through Irish embassies abroad in Presidential elections and a reduction of the Presidential term to 5 years, a lowering of the voting age to 17, a review of the Dáil electoral system and the removal of references to blasphemy. The Convention will also look at the issues of  acheiveing full Marriage Equality and the status of Women in the constitution.

“My hope is that these important areas of reform will be acheived in the context of much wider institutional change, which I feel is absolutely necessary if we’re to build towards a geuninely inclusive republic.

ENDS

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Posted by admin on February 28, 2012. Filed under Elections & Referendums,homepage,Latest News,Political & Public Service Reform. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry